Elastic undergarment construction



Dec. 19, 196 A. GOLDSTEIN ELASTIC UNDERGARMENT CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 25, 1960 INVENTOR Hr Huu' 0 id's ein /Lw ATTORNEY Dec. 19, 1961 A. GOLDSTEIN 3,013,563

ELASTIC UNDERGARMENT CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 25 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR AAA ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 19, 1961 3,013,563 ELASTIC UNDERGARMENT CONSTRUCTION Arthur Goldstein, New York, N.Y., assignor to Tru Balance Corsets, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 4,432 4 Claims. (Cl. 128542) This invention relates to elastic undergarment constructions and more particularly to elasticized girdle portions of foundation garments, and still more particularly to elasticized girdles.

In prior art known to me, as set forth in United States Patents Nos. 2,304,812, granted December 15, 1942, and 2,733,444, granted February 7, 1956, there is described elasticized foundation garments particularly girdles in which the coordinated elastic influence specifically of the primary elasticity of a Warp knit fabric in an upward diagonal direction of side members and diagonally downward direction of hip members upon a front panel, in various modifications indivergent relation to each other. provided a posture corrective device particularly during activity and one which, particularly in the latter patent, effectively resists riding displacement. These garments are expensive to manufacture and entail costly size-fitting care, accurately to correlate the elastic panels entering into their construction, in consequence of which the low cost if straight cut, predominantly elastic fabric girdles have won greater favor and have sacrificed the beneficial corrective influence of the more expensive elastic garments.

I have discovered that an elastic garment predominantly of straight elastic fabric may be greatly improved by utilizing the muscular articulating influence to compensate for the indiscriminate contractive effect of a predominantly uniformly arranged elastic fabric such as found in simple girdles.

It is an object of. my invention to combine in an undergarment having a girdle section, Whether a foundation type or girdle type, having predominant portions of the hip and side sections particularly utilizing straight out elasticized fabric in which the primary elasticity is laterally or horizontally disposed, an elastic reinforcement diagonally extended to effect its articulation influence upon the active body. I accomplish this by disposing a maximally extending elastic band from a portion on the frontal thigh, upwardly along a line substantially in parallelism with the rectus femorus muscle and sartorius muscle, and then arcuately rearwardly and diagonally along proximally over the anterior spine portion of the illium and great trochanter, and then rearwardly to a point below the waistline. For convenience, I will refer to such section as a great diagonal hip and thigh arc, asit spans the longest linear dimension which is subjected to relative contraction and torsional distension by muscular articulation. This reinforcement elastically accordingly equally effects a similar influence in an elastic garment, the band of which substantially follows along the arc thus described, and will be referred to simply as a great diagonal hip band.

' More specifically, it is an object of my invention to incorporate in an undergarment having a girdle section predominantly of straight cut elastic fabric particularly in the hip, side and thigh sections, in which the primary elasticity is effected by a two-way stretch elastic thread and yarn combination of weave or knit, a reinforcement of an elastic band which consists of a great diagonal hip band and still more, an elastic reinforcement of a great diagonal hip band in which the primary elasticity augments in substantial parallelism the primary elasticity of the threads of the laterally directed elastic threads of the hip and thigh sections of the girdle section which is straight out as a single panel to form such sections.

Still more specifically it is an object of my invention to combine in the girdle section of an undergarment,

whether full legnth foundation or abbreviated portion,

thereof of girdle made of elastic fabric, a great arc diagonal hip band to produce in a relatively low cost garment the modeling influence of muscular articulation of the movement of the thigh as such garments are Worn by the user.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, i make reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of my garment laid fiat, illustrating my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the same from the left side;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of the garment laid flat;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary magnified section, taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the blank for supplying the front panel of a garment in accordance with my invention;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a blank for forming the rear panel;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of a blank for forming the left and right hip side and thigh sections of the garment with an outline of the reinforcement band thereon; and

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of a blank for forming the left and right great diagonal hip band reinforcement band.

Making reference to the drawings, I have illustrated my invention in connection with an elastic undergarment in the form of a girdle 19, it being understood that similar construction may be incorporated in an all-in-one foundation garment including a brassiere section, or a foundation garment having a more extended waistline covering section and be within the scope of my invention, and for convenience I will refer to all such garments including a girdle per so as an undergarment having a girdle section as the portion to which my invention is specifically directed.

In the illustration, in the girdle 10, I provide a front central covering panel 11 comprising preferably generally an inverted triangularly outlined blank shown in FIGURE 5 which is cut from one-way stretch woven elastic fabric having primary elasticity in the direction of the arrow 12 which serves to permit placement of the elastic threads therein to be aligned in parallelism with the vertical axis or center line of the garment. A rear central covering panel 13 is generally an erect triangular or jug shaped blank (see FIGURE 6) likewise cut from one-way stretch elastic fabric having primary elasticity in the direction of the arrow 12 which likewise serves to permit placement of the elastic threads therein to be aligned in parallelism with the vertical axis or center line of the garment.

Side, hip and thigh covering panels 14 and 15 for the left and right covering portions of the garment are cut from generally trapezoidally shaped blanks 14, 15, shown in FIGURE 7 by reverse and obverse assymetrically outlining the pattern blank 14, 15 to cut the same from two-way stretch elastic fabric preferably employing the warp knit elastic fabric described in my Patent No. 2,304,- 812, above identified, with the primary elasticity horizontally extended as to magnitude and direction of elasticity as indicated by the stretch component arrow 16.

Left and right great-arc diagonal hip band reinforcements 17, 18, one each for the panels 14 and 15, are cut from the pattern blank 17, 18 (FIGURE 8). They are preferably cut so that the primary elasticity is as evidenced by the components of elasticity arrows 16. This direction of elasticity is retained when the band reinforcements are superimposed on side panels 14, 15, to lie substantially as an arcuate band diagonally from each side of the center bottom edges 19, 2t and to extend to each side of the center of the rear upper half of side edges 21, 22., and with the primary elasticity of each of the bands 17 and 18 so provided as to be substantially coincident with that of the panels 14- and 15.

Assembly is effected by first combining bands 17 and 18 with side panels 14 and 15, as described, and as diagrammatically shown in superimposed position in FIG- URE 7 so that each reinforcement band is afiixed to the respective side panels by elastically disposed zigzag stitches 23 which lap the bands to the rear surface of the side panels and preferably extend the bands 17, 13, so that the bottom edges 24, 25 of the left and right bands 17, 18 coincide with the bottom edges 19, 20, respectively, and the upper edges 26, 27 of the left and right bands coincide with the side edges 21, 22 of the panels 14 and 15, respectively, in the direction as above described.

Thereupon the garment is sewn to assemble the same. This is done by loop stitching the front panel 11 by forming the left front seam 28 and right front seam 29, to unite the left and right side edges of the front panel if to the conforming side edge of the side panels 14, then the next operation is to stitch the vertical seams 3t 31, joining the side edges 21, 22 to the corresponding side edges of the rear panel 13 aiong the double thickness of the bands 17, 18 at those edges.

The garment is completed for making a girdle by hemming the top edge 32 along the waistline or upper edge and then hemming the lower edge 33 along the edges 19, 20, 24, 25, of the blanks described, and the bottom edges of the front panel 11 and rear panel 13, it being understood that along the center of the front of each thigh center of the side sections 14 and 15 the bands 17, 18 are affixed along the edges 24, to anchor these edges securely to the garment pro-per, as described.

The completed garment thus made covers the body portion at and from the waistline, downwardly over the hips and thighs, like a short girdle usually does, with the great diagonal hip bands extending from the frontal thighs upwardly, then along a line substantially in parallelism with the rectus femorus muscle and sartorius muscle, rearwardly and arcuately diagonally along the hips over the least yielding portion of the hips, beneath which lies the anterior spine portion of the illium and great trochanter, before being directed rearwardly to a portion of the waistline. At this portion the terminal edges are afiixed adjacent the side edges of the rear panel. The band, when the garment is worn, influences the greatest elastic articulation beneficial to contouring and results in a secure feeling of posture correction with each walking movement or straightening movement, as the thigh muscles are tensioned after each relaxing motion.

It will be understood that while I have only described a girdle section, that similarly this section may be incorporated in a full length or high waisted undergarment without departing from the spirit of my invention.

It will also be observed that while I have described and prefer to employ a paneled construction in which the front and rear panels are one-way stretch vertically extended elastic fabric sections, and utilize two-way stretch warp knit fabric for the hip, side and thigh covering sections, to which are combined the great diagonal elastic hip bands to secure What is believed to be the maximum beneficial effects, it will be understood that phases of my invention, to a lesser degree, may be secured by embodying great diagonal elastic hip bands in which the elasticity is ex tended throughout a continuous encircling web, or an all elastic panty. Likewise, it will be understood the girdle section of hip, thigh and side sections may be improved to provide some of the benefits of my invention, by the incorporation of the great diagonal elastic hip bands as described made of one-way stretch horizontally-extended elastic fabrics. Further, without intending to be confined thereto, I believe that best results are achieved by employing the great diagonal elastic hip bands as the sole elastic reinforcement means without confining its articulating function along its line of extension by other reinforcement such as lateral or crosswise bands.

Still further, it will be understood that greater extension of the great diagonal elastic hip bands below the crotch line at the frontal thigh portions will serve more effectively to intensify the elastic influence of the fabric, the force of articulation of the upper thighs and hips serving comfortably to mold the body portion covered and improve posture, and that a lesser degree of extension of these bands will limit the beneficial forces.

It will also be understood that while I have shown and described the application of the great diagonal hip band as a separately applied reinforcement cut from an already woven or knit sheet of fabric which is then superimposed and sewn in position as described as the preferred form, I may employ, and therefore within the contemplation of the invention, include the incorporation of the reinforcement during the knitting or weaving of the fabric, by loeating the isolated elastic threads at the prescribed position of the fabric as it is made, as will be understood by those skilled in the field of making reinforcement fabric, and accordin ly, in the claims I mean to include by the term great diagonal elastic hip band the band of reinforcement separately attached as well as the integrally custom made form during the knitting or weaving, even though I prefer the former composite.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An undergarment having a girdle section including distensible fabric portions extending from at least the waistline covering portion at its upper edge to at least the thigh covering portion at its lower edge and comprising left and right distensible side, hip, thigh covering panel sections, each of said composite panel sections extending from adjacent one side of the rear medial line of the back section forwardly to one side of the front medial line of the front section of the garment, and from the waistline portion at its upper edge to the thigh portion at its lower edge, the combination wherein said panel sections each have elastically affixed thereto an elastic reinforcing band extending along its length from a point adjacent the waistline portion to one side of the rear medial line of the back section diagonally outwardly to the left and right sides, respectively and then downwardly and forwardly over the peak width of the hip covering portion of the said panel sections, and then frontally downwardly to the thigh portion approximately to span the medial front center of the thigh covering section adjacent the lower front edge of the garment.

2. An undergarment in accordance with claim 1 Where in said panel sections comprise elastic distensible fabric members having the primary elasticity extending widthwise of the garment.

3. An undergarment in accordance with claim 1 wherein said panel sections comprise elastic fabric members of two way stretch warp knit elastic fabric and the said elastic reinforcing band has the primary elasticity extending widthwise of the garment.

4. An undergarment having a girdle section including elastic fabric portions extending from at least the waistline covering portion at its upper edge to at least the thigh covering portion at its lower edge and comprising left and right elastic fabric side, hip, thigh covering panel sections, each of said composite panel sections extending from adjacent one side of the rear medial line of the back section forwardly to one side of the front medial line of the front section of the garment, and from the waistline portion at its upper edge to the thigh portion at its lower edge, the combination wherein said left and right panel sections each have elastically afiixed thereto an elastic reinforcing band extending along its length from a point adjacent the waistline portion to one side of the rear medial line of the back section diagonally outwardly to the left and right sides, respectively and then downwardly and forwardly over the peak width of the hip covering portion of the said panel sections, and then frontally downwardly to the thigh portion approximately to span the medial front center of the thigh covering section adjacent the lower front edge of the garment, the panel sections and elastic reinforcing band each having the primary elasticity thereof extending substantially widthwise of the garment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bell Mar. 31, 1959 

